Keepsakes

I thought of 'us' again today,

of how we once used to be

inseparable, you and me

The walk from home to school and back,

the blue water bottle and the red bag pack,

Orange-cream biscuits and hopscotch fun,

those endless tiffs over who'd lost, who'd won

Keepsakes of innocence that couldn't last,

like solemn sentinels guard my past

And see to it that I never forget,

the course of silence and regret.

I told you not, I thought you'd see,

how much you always meant to me

Soon with time, we both withdrew

The friendship bands our age outgrew,

Stealing glances and holding hands

replaced the charm of those plastic bands.

Dance class with our moves so groovy

The ticket stubs to every movie

Those picnic baskets (now threadbare)

Wrappers of toffees and candy we'd share

Time ticked on, we both stayed friends,

You knew you'd lose me to the odds and ends,

But you told me not, you thought I'd say,

We waited until our parting day

Yet, in silence we bid farewell,

Neither you nor I did tell.

My eyes teared, my soul cried,

I refused to let go of my foolish pride,

You reminded me of our friendship band

and then quietly slipped something in my hand.

You stood smiling through the pain;

a half locket on a silver chain.

The 'broken heart' told me that day,

what you until then had dared not say

I stood tongue-tied, you couldn't see

how much you'd always meant to me

With half the heart each in stride,

I still wear mine around with pride.

In memory of moments left behind,

Like all these keepsakes in my mind

Piecemeal, fragmented, yet strong and free

Reminders of who we used to be

Of you and me, and what it means now,

To be apart and still meet somehow

in thoughts, in words, in poetry we make,

in mind, in heart, in each keepsake

I thought of 'us' again today

Of how much has changed so to say

And yet could not have changed enough

for the world to catch our bluff

Or drive us both to make amends,

and go back to just being friends